Ernest has been married to Judy since 1973; they have five children and 11 grandchildren. Ernest believes strongly in the Boy Scouts of America; he's a former Scoutmaster and both his sons are Eagle Scouts.

You can lose thousands of dollars every week -- right from the privacy of your own home!

Thanks to the modern miracle of Internet gambling, you don't have to plan ahead for a trip to a casino far-far away! Just imagine the gambling convenience:

No need to plan ahead!

No pre-set spending limits!

No distraction from family members wanting to share your vacation time!

Temptation is always as close as your keyboard.

A new federal law was passed just last year that prevents this, limiting your abilty to lose large amounts of money quickly and easily. Thanks to Barney Frank, the Massachusetts Congressman who now chairs the House Financial Services Committee, that law may be undone.

If he succeeds, credit card companies and banks will once again be required to process payments of online gambling debts. Last year a new law gave you the right to refuse to pay online gambling debts financed through a credit card (just as you can protest improper bills). That's akin to many state laws that make illegal gambling debts unenforceable (which is why bookies have their own "enforcers").

The plan is reported in The Hill, which reports that it will be sold as a supposed way to make billions each year for the government. It's the same argument presented by those who want to legalize marijuana, whose mantra is "legalize it and tax it".

Frank claims it would provide tens of billions of dollars, which would not be used to reduce the federal deficit, but instead would be spent on expensive tax, healthcare, or other domestic legislation Democrats want to move this year.

Social conservatives are aghast, but the new Democratic majority isn't listening to them.

Rep. Frank says that now, “anti-gambling busybodies will be less inclined to interfere in people’s lives.” Pro-gambing lobbying groups are ecstatic. “We’re incredibly excited," said Michael Bolcerek, president of the Poker Players Alliance, said. “It will do the right thing for poker players and at the same time protect the public interest.” Former Sen. Al D’Amato (R-N.Y.) is working for the group.

Frank’s proposal, however, could face an uphill battle in the House, which passed the anti-Internet gambling law by 317-93 last summer. Several members of the current leadership voted for the anti-gambling bill last July, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.). Meanwhile, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) voted no, as did Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.).

The proposed legislation could benefit the offshore gambling sites that saw their U.S. customer base disappear when Congress stepped in last year.

Lobbyists for banks and credit card companies that would have shouldered much of the burden of enforcing the gaming crackdown reacted favorably to Frank’s announcement. “We’d be very pleased to see that law repealed simply because it would remove a potential burden on the financial system and especially on community bankers,” said Steve Verdier, the senior vice president for congressional affairs at the Independent Community Bankers of America.